▲ U.S. President Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to officially announce South Korea's investment project in the United States on the 30th (local time).
The White House announced on the 29th (local time) that President Trump will make an announcement "along with the Secretary of Commerce" at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time on the 30th (4:30 a.m. on October 1, Korean time) in the Oval Office.
The White House did not provide any additional explanation regarding what President Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will announce.
However, considering that Commerce Secretary Lutnick will serve as a co-presenter and taking into account recent foreign media reports, it is highly likely to concern South Korea's investment in the U.S.
Earlier that day, Reuters and Bloomberg reported that President Trump is expected to announce a South Korea-U.S. investment project at the White House on the 30th.
These outlets reported that President Trump's upcoming announcement is also expected to include South Korea's investment of 54.0 billion dollars (approx. 73 trillion KRW) in the Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) development project.
According to Bloomberg and other sources, not only President Trump and Secretary Lutnick, but also Senator Dan Sullivan (Republican) representing Alaska, Representative Nick Begich (Republican), and Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy are scheduled to attend the announcement.
The South Korean government recently reported to the National Assembly that it decided to pursue the construction of a gas-combined cycle power plant in Encinal, Texas, as the first project of its 200 billion dollar strategic investment in the U.S.
Unlike the Texas thermal power plant, the construction of eight large nuclear power plants in the U.S. and the Alaska LNG development project have been classified as matters for future consultation. However, if foreign media reports are correct, the possibility cannot be ruled out that President Trump may announce the investment in the Alaska LNG project on the 30th as if it were a virtually finalized matter.
The Alaska LNG project is a large-scale undertaking to transport natural gas from the North Slope through a pipeline of approximately 1,300 kilometers to the south for liquefaction. While President Trump has actively promoted it, the project has been surrounded by concerns over its unclear profitability.
In Alaska, ahead of the November midterm elections, Republican incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan and a Democratic candidate are locked in a tight race. Consequently, it is projected that if President Trump actually includes this content in his announcement, interpretations will emerge that it is a move to support the Alaska election.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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